Loose women and alcohol
Blimey, I feel like I’ve been up a whole day already. I’m sure the first time I was cuddled, poked and prodded (‘Mummy, wake up, it’s my birthday!) that it wasn’t even daylight. A firm ‘bugger off, it can’t be yet’ saw him off for a while, but finally the birthday boy brought troops in the shape of his older brother and then there was no going back.
Our astonishingly generous family sent presents and more money than I’ve had in my purse for rather a long time, and #1 bought him a new football: ‘corrrrrr!’ Phone calls from Grandma, naughty Uncle A (‘thanks for the money, Uncle A’, ‘no problem, Pal, spend it on loose women and alcohol’), Disreputable Grandad (all the way from Mauritius – probably cost him more than the birthday money) and a mighty fine Marilyn Monroe-esque rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ from J (Hubby: ‘oh my God, is someone singing??!) later, and his excitement knew no bounds. Special birthday pancakes with lashings of maple syrup followed and now we’re making serious plans for the birthday cake. No surprises that it’s looking pretty chocolaty so far.
Next, we’re off to some far-flung retail park to spend his birthday money (it was never going to last more than a day in his pocket – I’m hoping to persuade him to save half, but it’s not looking good), before a celebratory road trip (round the fields) on the sparkling red wonder that is his new bike. Thank the lord it’s only once a year. Happy Birthday, sweetheart xx
